Officials Confirm Shark Bit Delaware Teen In Cape Henlopen

A 16-year-old boy says he was bitten by a shark while swimming at Delaware's Cape Henlopen State Park.

State officials say the reported shark bite led them to delay Tuesday's opening of swimming areas at the park. The beach was reopened just after 1 p.m., The News Journal of Wilmington reports.

Officials with the state Division of Parks and Recreation say the boy was injured Monday afternoon and was treated at a hospital for gashes to his left forearm.

The boy told authorities that he was standing in about 5 feet of water when he felt something grab his arm. He reported that the shark released its bite and swam away after he batted it with his right arm.

Lifeguards and biologists monitored the waters before opening them for swimming.